MAVKA: THE FOREST SONG

Ukraine, 2023, 90 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Oleh Malamuzh, Oleksandra Ruban.

A fairytale from Ukraine, an animated film based on a Ukrainian poem in three acts, 1911, by Lesya Ukrainka.

At any time, this would be a welcome cinema addition to the many folklore and fairytale variations on screen over the decades. However, it has been five years in the making, released in Ukraine in March 2023, a year after Putin’s invasion. So, it is an encouragement to the people of Ukraine, some moments of morale-boosting as well as entertainment and relief in war times. Worldwide audiences will respond in solidarity.

And, it is something of a fairytale which echoes the atmosphere of invasion. As the film opens, we are treated to the beautiful colours and vitality of the forest, and the powers of the forest. But, a human comes to the forest to ask for help, receives it, but then returns home and sets up a brutal invasion, repelling the forest people, destruction, for human prosperity. Allegory!

But Mavka is a young girl from the forest, delighting in the forest, and with the powers of the forest, chosen to be the custodian of the forest (to the jealousy of three older girls). In the meantime, back in the town, with the humans, there is an enthusiastic young musician, Lucas, playing with the band at the fair, and playing the recorder which delights Mavka, invited to go with the troupe to play in the city, but concerned about his ill uncle.

Though neither of them are exactly royalty, it is clear that Mavka is the Princess equivalent and Lucas, though a commoner, the Prince Charming equivalent.

Then, enter the wicked witch! She is the widow of the initial invader, returning to take possession of the town but, like her Snow White wicked witch equivalent, gazes into her mirror to be the fairest of them all but needs the liquid from a particular tree from the forest. She advertises for workers, Lucas responds, sent on a mission into the forest to find the leaf. She has brought with her an assistant, highly camp in his dress, speaking, manner, and dastardly in his behaviour, especially against Lucas.

On the delight side, there are a range of forest strange creatures, some of them comic, while there is a cute one who loves eating human pies, and a dog who is Lucas’s pet.

And, so, double drama, falling in love with Mavka, and suffering the hostility of the forest people and powers. This we can all enjoy, but not without experiencing a great deal of strife, the wicked witch encouraging the humans to attack again, Mavka and her dilemma of guarding the forest and her love for Lucas…

Obviously, it is going to have a happy ending, and a negotiation for peace (if only in present-day Ukraine). The characters are bright. All the colours are very bright. And the whole production is a reminder of the many fairy tales from the Disney studios over the decades. But this one has its own national tale and heroics.

1. A poem from Ukraine, fairytale, traditions, and a 21^st-century interpretation?
2. The animation, the human characters, echoes of Disney characters, Princess and Prince Charming, Wicked Witch, the design of the characters, the creatures of the forest, the powers, human equivalents, animal equivalents, serious, and comic touches? The musical score?
3. The situation in the forest, powers, the touch of the supernatural, the power of nature? The particular characters and their embodiments? The human look of some of those in the forest, especially Mavka, her three sisters? The invasion by the humans after the visit and request for the liquid allegedly for the daughter? The human invasion, fighting, destruction, consequent suspicions?
4. Time passing, life in the forest, Mavka, a child of the forest, the three young women and their jealousy? Her being chosen to be the guardian of the forest, the rituals establishing her? Her duties?
5. In the town, the farms, the work, shops, the fair, the band, their prospects for going to the city? Wariness of the forest creatures?
6. Lucas, position, singing, playing the recorder? His sick uncle? Staying to help him?
7. The wife of the invader, her return, her assistant and his camp style, her age, vanity, wanting to establish industry? Yet her wanting the moisture from the leaf from the forest for her vanity? Advertising for work? Lucas and his replying, the mission of the leaf, going into the forest to find it?
8. Lucas, the experience in the forest, the creatures, searching for the leaves, his mishaps, the encounter with Mavka, the attraction, their bonding? Difficulties arising, jealousies? Lucas and his return, his uncle recovering?
9. The invasion, the rabid humans against the creatures of the forest, the resistance, using magic? Lucas, the camp assistant, spying, trapping him, his eventual release, his dog, going back into the forest?
10. Mavka, the situation, the invasion, the prospect of self-sacrifice, her agreeing, sacrificing her love for Lucas, the experience, dread?
11. But the intervention of happiness, reward for sacrifice, love, and peace between people of the forest and humans?